Hopper-car-door-operating mechanism.



J. M. ROHLFING. HOPPER OAR DOOR OPERATING MBOHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. Z9, 1912.

1,109,598, Patented Sept. 1,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. M. ROHLFING. HOPPBR GAR DooR OPERATING MBGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 29. 1912. 1,109,598, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. F/G. Z

/NVEN TOIT '/oH/v MT RoHL F/NG UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JOHN M. ROHLFING, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSVOPRI, .SSIGNOR '.lIOv AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY', ST.'^LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HOPPER-CAR-DOOBFOPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

" Patented sept. 1, 1914.

.Application leillarch 29, 1912. Serial No. 687,225. v

Door-Operating Mechanism, of whichl the` following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ao-l companying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a hopper car, the doors of which are equipped with my ilnproved operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional vlew taken approximately on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 .is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing thev doors dropped or lowered into dumping osition.` Fig, 4 is an enlarged detail section ltaken approximately'on'the line L1--4'of Figl. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the hoolisfyvhichlserves as means" for locking the ends? of the doorl levers to the winding shaft.

Thisl invention relates to new and useful improvements' in operating mechanism for the doors of lhopper cars, and the principal objects 'of my invention are, to provide simple means whereby both doors can be simultaneously actuated from a single shaft that n can be operated from either side of the car, to provide apair of levers which cooperate with the doors and support the free edges thereof when the same are dropped into dumping positions, to arrange hooks on the ends of the door levers, which hooks are con nected to the winding chains so that the ends of said hooks are caused to engage with the Winding shaft to hold the doors locked in closed position and to generally improve and simplify the construction of hopper car door-operating devices Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings; 1,-designate's the side glrders of the car body, the same being surmounted by side walls 2l and the ends of which girders rest upon the usual body bolsters 3.

4 designates the inclined plates which form the end walls of the car body.

The doors 5 -are hinged at their outer edges `in any"`suitable manner to brackets 4arranged beneath the girders 1, and said doors are desivned to close against each other atl their fiee edges. The` ends of the doors 5 areprovided with depending wings or webs 7, preferablyv formed of sheet lmetal, and when the doors are closed, these webs occupyv vertical positions immediately adjacent to lthe lower ends of the inclined plates 4.

Longitudinally disposed strengthening members 8, preferably in the form of I- beams, are xed to the undersides of the doors andextend along the free edges thereof, and if' desired, longitudinally disposed] strengthening members 9 in the form of angles may be located upon the central portions of said doors. l

10 designates the winding shaft, the same yried by one end of this Winding shaft is a beveled pinion 12.

13 designates a transversely disposed operating shaft that is journaled in suitable bearings and extends from one side yof the carto the other. Hand wheels 14 are fixed on the ends of this shaft 13, and a beveled pinion 14a is also fixed on said shaft, which pinion Inesheswith the'pinion 12.

Fixed on the winding shaft 10 adjacent to the end carrying the beveled pinion 12 is a ratchet wheel 15 with which is adapted to engage a pawl 16, the latter being pivotally connected to a fixed member of the car body. y

Pivotally connected to brackets 17 that are located at the ends of one of the doors 5 beneath the free edge thereof are the ends of transversely disposed door-operating levers 18, the same being provided on their upper edges with lugs 19 and 20.

Journaled in suitable brackets 21 at the ends ofthe door opposite the door to which the levers 18 are pivotally connected are rollers 22 which engage on the upper edges of lthe levers 18 during the opening and closing movements of the doors. When the doors are closed the rollers 22 engage behind the lugs 19, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the doors are open, as shown in Fig. 3, said rollers engage behind the lugs 20.

Pivotally vmounted on the free ends of the levers 18 are hooks 23 each provided with a lng or a pair of ears 24, through which passesa pin 25 that engages the lower link of the corresponding winding chain or cable 26. The upper end of each hoch 23 is curved inward, as designated by 23 so as to engage over the winding shaft 10 when the I chains or cables are Wound thereon, thereby securely holding the doors in closed positions. The upper curved end 23a of each hook is provided with a laterally projecting lug 23b against the front edge of which the corresponding winding chain or cable normally engages while the doors are' being closed or during their opening movement, but when the doors are moved upwardly to their limit of movement the upward pull upon the winding chains 26 swings the inwardly curved upper ends 23u of the hooks over the winding `shaft 10, thereby holding said doors locked in their closed positions. When the doors are closed the various parts of my improved operating mechanism occupy the positions as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. With theparts so positioned the lugs 19 bear directly against the rollers 22, thereby clamping the free edges of the doors in close relation and resisting any tendency of the free edges of saiddoors to spread apart. The free ends of the levers 18 are locked to the winding shaft 10 by the engagement of the hooks upon said winding shaft and said shaft is held against rotary movement which would permit the'chains or cables to unwind, by the auxiliary locking -means comprising the ratchet wheel 15 and pawl 16.

When it is desired-to actuate the operating mechanism and permit the doors to swing downward into dumping positions the point of the pawl 16 is disengaged' from the ratchet wheel 15, and when this is accomplished, the winding shaft 10 is slightly rotated in a directionreverse to the direction said shaft .was rotated to wind the chains upon said shaft, and by such slight reverse rotation the upper ends of the hooks 23 are disengaged `from said winding shaft by reason ofJ their vfrictional engagement therewith. As soon as'fthe hooks are thus disengaged the weight of the load acts to swing the doors downward into open, dumping positions, and during this opening movement the chains 2 6 unwind from the shaft 10 and the rollers 22 will ride over the lugs 19 and thence upon the upper edges of the levers 18,

and when the doors have swung open to` their limit of movement said rollers 22 oc-t cupy positions directly behind the lugs 2O.v

When the pawl 16 is disengaged to permit the doors to swing downward the chains 26 will unwind 'from the shaftfor a considerable distance and the ends of the levers 18 carrying the hooks will swing downward some little distance before the free edges of the doors start tornove downward and away from one another, or the reason that the rollers 22 are bea ng against the Vlugs 19.

Then the rollers`22 finally pass overlugs 19- thefweight of the load which the rollers v22 are said door to drop with on the door upon mounted will cause considerable force onto the levers 18, thereby producing pounding effect which tends to loosen the load and cause the same to free itself from the interior of the car body.

The doors are swung upward and closed by manually engaging either one of the hand wheels 14 and actuating the same to impart rotary motion to the shaft 13. This rotary motion is transmitted by means of the beveled pinions 12 and 141 to the winding shaft 10, and as said shaft is rotated the chains 26 are wound thereon, consequently pulling ,the levers 18 upward and moving the free edges of the doors toward one another. During thisclosing movement of the doors the pull of the chains connected to the lower ends of the hooks 23 tends to swing the upper ends of said hooks inwardly, but by reason of the engagement of the anges 23b at the upper ends of said hooks against the chains, said hooks are maintained in upright position, as seen in Fig. 5, until the upper portions of said hooks are drawn above the winding shaft 10, and the continued pull upon the chains now automatically swings the hooks upon their points of'pivotal connection with the levers 18 and the upper ends of said hooks are thus engaged over said winding shaft (see Fig. 4). When the upper portions of the hooks pass above the winding shaft the continued pull of the chains on the lower ends of said hooks tends to swing the same upon the pins that pivot said hooks to the ends o-f the levers 18, and thus said hooks are automatically moved into engagement with the winding shaft.

It will be readily understood that in some instances where a comparatively short car is equipped with my improved door-operating mechanism that only one lever and winding chain or cable will be necessary, and where such arrangement is carried out the lever is positioned midway between the ends of the doors. In some instances it may be found desirable to connect the levers by an .equalizing bar, and to arrange' on said bar one of the winding shaft engaging hooks, which latter is connected to the shaft by a single winding chain or cable. i

A car door-operating mechanism of my improved constructionis comparatively simple, comprises a minimum'number of parts, can be actuated to close the doors from either side of the car, and the hooks that form a connection between the windingv chains andl the levers are automatically thrown into engagement with the winding shaft to lock the doors in closed position by the final movement of the operating mecha-- nism.

It will be readily understood that minor changes inthe size,.'form and construction of the various parts of my improved car door-operating mechanism can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

1. The combination with a. pair of oppo# sitely moving doors for closing the opening in a hopper car, of a lever pivotally connected to one of the doors near the free edge thereof, and cooperating with the opposite door, and means for moving the lever ongitudinally and pressing it against the last mentioned door to close the same.

, 2. The combination with oppositely mov ing doors for closing the opening in a hopper car, of a lever pivotally connected to one of the doors near its free edge, which levery door, a catch member pivotally mounted on.

. the free end of the lever, and means for moving the lever to close the doors and finallyl operate the catch member to secure the doors in closed position.

4. The combination with the hinged doors of a hopper car, nected tovone of the doors near its free edge, which lever supports the free edge ofthe opposite door, a hook pivotally mounted on the free end of the lever, a winding shaft in position to be engaged by the hook when l tweeny said winding shaft and the hook, and

meanson said hook and normally engaging rthe iexible connection for holding said hook in position t'o engage the winding shaft j v tions between said winding shaft and the when the doors are closed.

5. The combination with a pair of hopper car doors, of a lever supporting the free edges of said doors, which lever is pivotally connected to one of said doors, a shaft at the side of the car, a hook carried by the free end ofthe lever and adapted to engage said shaft when the doors are closed, and a conf nection between the free end of the lever and the winding shaft, whereby said lever will be raised to close the doors'.

6. The combination with a pair of oppositely opening doors, of a lever pivotally connected to one of the doors and slidably supporting the free edge o-f the opposite door, anti-friction means between said last mentioned door andthe lever, and means for tilting the lever to close the doors.

7 The combination with a pair of hopper car doors, of a lever pivotally connected to one of the doors near its free edge, a roller bearing on the opposite door near its free edge, which roller bearing engages the lever,

f slidably 1 the opposite door, actuating means whereby of a lever pivotally eon- 113g doos, of a lever pivotally connected to lugs on said lever againstwhich the rollerv bearing engages when thedoors areclosed andopen, and' means for elevating the lever to simultaneously close the doors.

8. The combination with a pair of hop-per car doors, of a lever pivotally connected to one of the doors near its free edge, a roller bearing on the opposite door near its free edge, which roller bearing engages the lever, lugs on saidlever against which the roller bearing engages when the doors are closed and open, a winding shaft, and a flexible connection between said winding shaft and the free end of the lever.

9. The combination withv a pair of oppositely opening doors, of a lever arranged beneath the free edges ofthe doors, which lever is pivotally connected to one of said doors and slidably fulcrumed on the free edge of the oppositedoor, and means whereby said lever is elevated to 'close the doors. 10. The combination with a'pair of swinging doors, of a lever arranged beneath the free edges of the doors, which lever is pivv otally connected to one of`v said doors and fulcrumed upon 'the free edge of said lever is swung to close the doors, and

`means operable by said actuating m-ans for locking the door-operating mechanism when the doors are closed. l

11. The combination with a pair of swingcne door and cooperating with the opposite door, actuating means for moving. the lever to vclose the doors, andfmeans operable by the actuating' means for locking said lever the doors are closed, a `lieXible connection bel'whenthe same has been shifted to close the i 12; The combination' with a per of hop-A 'ner car doors,'of a winding shaftarranged -or operation at the side of the car, connecf free edge of the dooron the opposite side of the car from said shaft, 'and means carried by said connections for engaging the shaf tio lock the doors in closed positions.

13. The combination with a-pair of pivotefd hopper car doors, of levers pivotally connested to the free edge of one door near the' ends thereof, which levers coperate with the opposite door, actuating means for simultaneously moving the levers to close the doors, and means operable by the actuatings means for lockingy the doors in closed osition.

14. The combinationwith a pair of oppositely. opening hopper car doors that are hinged at the sidesvof the car body, of a winding shaft, a movable connection from the free edge of one door to the winding shaft, which connection extends transversely beneath the other door and constitutes the sole support for the free edges of the doors, and means for actuating said 591schafg9. opening,

connections .'to "simultaneously swing thev doors .'n- .oppositedirection;

15. S'Ihe. combination with a pair of hopper car doors that are hinged at the-sides ofl thesar, body, of a winding shaft, con- "nectinsy from the free edge of one door to the winding shaft, :which connections extend beneath one of the doors, means for actuating-.said connections to simultaneously close lathedoors,"andmeans for locking the connection actuating means .when the doors are Closed'. f v j :16.Inna car, the lcombination with a pair of oppositely movable doorsfor closing a .discharge opening, of a door-operating 'means including aflever fulcrumed on one ofs'aid doors, thefulcrum point being variable longitudinally of the lever, and means for actuatmg the lever to vary the fulcrum 2Q points 17,. The combination with a pair of oppositely movable-hopper car doors for closing a L discharge. jopening, of a .door-operating means including a lever positively connected 21g-tof one door, andwhich lever has a movable fulcrum onthe oppositedoor. y

n -18.1'I`he combination with apair of oppositely movable hopper car doors for closing a discharge opening, of a door-operating -3oneansincluding,a lever pivotally connected wlth'an inner vpart of one door, and which liever 'has a movable fulcrum on the opposite oor.', v. Y, l y `19. The combination-witha pair of oppo- LQnsitely movable hopper car doors for closing a :discharge opening, of a door-,operating means, including'a lever connected with one door andv lapping Vthe other door, which leveris fulcrumed on the opposite door, the god Eulorumpoint being variable.' p d 220. Thecombination with apair of oppositely movable hopper `car doors for closing=a dischargel opening, of a door-operat in'g means includinga-lever ivoted on one Lip ,wdo'oI-"and extending beyond t efree edge of l the other' door,l and which lever is fulcrumed on theglast mentioned door.

21. Inaea'r, the combination with a pair of oppositely'movable doors for closing a ofa door-operating means including a lever connected near the Copies of this patentmay be obtained for nve cents each, by addres Washington, D. C.

meeting edges of said doors, and which lever employs one of said doors as a movposite door, means for actuating said leverto move the doors into closed position, a'

pair of shoulders formed on the lever, and

means on the door that is engaged and supported by .the lever for engaging the shoulders on said lever when said doors are closed and open.

g 23. In a car, the combination with a pairl of oppositely movable doors for closing a discharge opening, of a lever nected to 'one of` sald doors,

and engaging against and supporting the opposite door,

lmeans for'actuating the lever to close the doors, a shoulder on the lever, and means on the door. engaged and supported by the lever for engaging the shoulder on said lever when the doors are closed. 24. In a ear, the combination with a pair of oppositely movable doors for closing a discharge opening, of a lever :pivotally connected to one of said doors, and enga ing against and supporting the opposite oor, means for actuating the lever to close the pivotally condoors, a shoulderon the lever, and means on the door engaged and supported by the lever for engaging the shoulder on said lever when the doors are open. 25. In a car,`the combination with a pair of oppositely 'opening doors, of an actuating lever for said doors, said lever being pivoted to one of said doors and cooperating with the. free edge of the other of said doors, means for swinging the free end of said lever to close the doors, and means on said lever for engaging the last mentioned door to clamp the free edges of the doors together upon the final movement ofthe lever.

i In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses,

this 18th day of March, 1912.

JOHN M. ROHLFING.

i Witnesses:

JAMES J. COOPER, PAUL M. BEARD.

sing the Commissioner of Patents, 

